Nobody wants their freight damaged or lost during transit. Shippers need reliable shipping options when sending their cargo from point A to point B. Discover a few easy ways to avoid freight damage and loss claims and get peace of mind knowing your shipment will be safe during the entire shipping process.
In the LTL freight shipping world, carriers must optimize their capacity loads. Having empty trailer space isn’t efficient, which isn’t suitable for the shipper or carrier. Multiple shipments share space on the same truck throughout transit to maximize trailer capacity. And during transit, with all the bumps and turns, things are sure to get rocky in the back of a trailer if shipments are not properly loaded or aren’t packaged correctly. Palletized shipments with weights evenly distributed across the pallet make it easy to stack and make things more stable in the back of a freight trailer.
Proper packaging of LTL freight is key to avoiding freight damage to your cargo or another shipper’s cargo. Protecting your shipment with suitable internal and external packaging material is vital to preventing damage to the load.
Types of External Packaging:
- Cardboard boxes
- Pallets
- Crates
These are the most common external packaging materials, protecting your shipment from outside threats, such as shifting cargo on the trailer and weather conditions.
Types of Internal Packaging:
- Bubble wrap
- Foam cushioning
- Inflatable packaging
- Packing peanuts
- Corrugated board
Depending on what you’re shipping, you may need one or more types of internal packaging materials. Internal packaging materials like bubble wrap or foam cushioning keep your shipment safe and in place if you’re using a box or crate. Depending on what you’re shipping, remember stretch wrap and banding are always necessary packaging materials to keep in your inventory.
Get more freight packaging tips or download our Guide to Freight Packaging for a comprehensive explanation of freight shipping best practices
There’s a lot of paperwork that goes into freight shipping. Having documents such as the Bill of Lading (BOL) completed and accurate is essential, but packaging labels are just as crucial.
Labels on a shipment help indicate a specific cargo’s weight limitations for stacking and content durability, which is essential for a carrier to know when loading up their trucks. For example, if your shipment contains fragile objects, your shipping label would state that the contents are fragile and how much weight can be stacked on your package without causing damage.
Shipping labels with names and addresses must be legible and weather-resistant, meaning laminated and taped onto your package. One of the many benefits of partnering with a 3PL, or third-party logistics company, is that these agencies connect shippers with personalized shipping solutions, provide every piece of vital documentation to shippers, and handle the management of this documentation.
Tracking
It always helps to know your shipment’s status and where it is during transit. Tracking your freight and being kept in the loop about any unexpected occurrences that might delay your shipment helps you stay informed. Weather delays, road conditions, or human errors can cause damage or lost freight.
Although receiving a tracking number from the carrier is all some shippers will need to track, there is a way to take freight shipping tracking to the next level. Shipping with a 3PL means you’ll have an extra set of eyes and ears monitoring your shipment status. Your shipping agent will be informed about your package status and has a network of resources around them to track any lost shipments or get to the bottom of a delayed shipment. An additional shipping professional who can help facilitate the movement of your freight, track that movement, and take care of any hiccups along the way is an invaluable asset to your supply chain.
Say Goodbye to Freight Damage and Loss
Partnering with a 3PL like FreightCenter is the best and easiest way to avoid freight damage and having to file loss claims. FreightCenter’s expert agents are here to guide you through every step of the shipping process, from advice for packaging freight and handling the paperwork for you to ensuring your cargo gets where it needs to be on time and safely.
Get a free quote today or call 8007167608 and experience the FreightCenter difference.
